Road sanding device



Oct- 1944. P. J. GRATTAN Q 2,360,870

ROAD SANDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 23, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 z .4; :6,3mm: 4 /"e zer J'r'a Z2472 Wows Oct. 24, 1944. PQJ. GRATTAN 7 2,360,870

ROAD SANDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 23 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PeZefJrra ZzazzPatented Oct. 24, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROAD sANnrNG DEVICEPeter J. Grattan, Minneapolis, Minn. Application January 23, 1943,Serial No. 473,381

Claims. 01. 275-2) This invention relates to' a road sanding device, andit is primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of thiskind which constitutes a trailer spreader for a dump vehicle.

The invention also has for an object to provide a device of this kindwhich includes a ground engaging supporting wheel which also constitutesa source of power for operating the discharge cylinder mounted foroperation within the hopper body of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kindwhich is adapted to be coupled to the rear or discharge end of thetilting body or box of a dump truck, said coupling lifting the deviceinto an inefl'ective position when the dump body or box is lowered butbeing in effective working position when the dump body or box is raisedfor discharging its contents within the hopper body of the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spreading deviceadapted to be coupled to the rear of a dumping vehicle and wherein avalve mechanism is provided to regulate or control the discharge fromthe hopper truck of the device and also wherein means are provided toallow the operator of the valve to be carried directly by the device.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved roadsanding device whereby certain important advantages are attained, aswill be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceedto describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings,wherein: V

Figure 1 is a view'in front elevation of a road sanding deviceconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the lineof sight being indicated by the arrow I, Figure 5.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the device as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed View in rear elevation illustratingthe operating levers for the valves as herein embodied.

Figure 4 is a detailed view, partly in section and partly in top plan,the line of section being substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken subtion illustrating adriving means for a discharge cylinder, and

FigureS is a fragmentary View in elevation illustrating -a dischargecylinder constructed in 1 accordance with. another embodiment of myinvention.

As disclosed in my improved sand spreading device comprises a hopper Hof desired dimensions and capacity but which is of a sizetoextendentirely across the rear end of the tilting body or box B of aconventional dumping truck T. This hopper H has its front and rear wallsl and 2 respectively upwardly diverging so that the opentop of thehopper is of considerable width. Each of the side walls '3 of the'hopperhas its upper or free marginal portion disposed on an upwardcurva-. ture, as at 4. v

The upper portion of the inner or front wall I of the hopperHis-hingedly connected, as at 5, to the lower portion of the rear ordumpingend of the body or box B, so that the hopper H is free to haveswinging movement with respect to the body or box B. The rear wall 2 ateach upper corner thereof is herein disclosed provided with anoutstanding lug 6 towhich is suitably anchored an extremity of aflexible member- 1,

' such as a chain.

stantially on the line 55 of Figure 1, looking view The oppositeextremity of each of these members or chains '1 is suitably anchored toa suitable bracket 8, herein disclosed as anchored to the upper edge ofthe side wall 9 of the body or box B. Each of the members or chains 1 isof a length to lift or swing the hopper H upwardly when the body or boxB is in its lowermost position, whereby the hopper H and the partscarried thereby are raised and maintained in an effective position. I

The bottom Ill of the hopper H is open and supported by the side walls 3of the hopper is a shaft II. This shaft ll bridges the space between theside walls 3and extends outwardly beyond each'of said sidewalls. As isparticularly illustrated in Figure '7, the outer face of each of thesidewalls 3 at its outer portion has suitably anchored thereto, as atI2, a reinforcing or bearing plate 14. This shaft II is to one sideof'the transverse center'of the open bottom l0 toward the rear wall 2 ofthe hopper and mounted upon opposite end portions. of the shaft ID forrotation therewith are the discharging cy1inders l5.

Each of these cylinders I5 is of a length to extend from closelyadjacent an end wall 3 of the,

hopper to a point closely adjacent to a downthe accompanying drawings,-

wardly facing housing I6 at substantially the longitudinal center of thehopper H. This housing I 6 extends from the front wall I of the hopper Hto and outwardly beyond the rear wall 2, as is clearly illustrated inFigures 2, 5 and 6.

Extending upwardly from below within this housing I6 is a groundengaging and supporting wheel I1 of desired dimensions which is fixed onthe central portion of the shaft II for rotation therewith. When thewheel I1 is in contact with the road surface, the cylinders I5 will berotated in a direction to assure proper discharge of the sand within thehopper H upon the roadway.

As particularly illustrated in Figure 5, it is to be noted that theposition of the shaft I I and the major radius of each of the cylindersI5 are such as to bring the periphery of the cylinder I5 closelyadjacent to the lower edge of the rear wall 2 of the hopper but havingsaid periphery of the roller I I spaced from the lower edge of the frontwall I of the hopper sufficient to provide a discharge slot I8 for thesand.

To facilitate the discharge of the sand within the hopper out throughthe slot I8, each of the cylinders I5 is provided in its periphery withthe longitudinally disposed grooves I9. However, if preferred, acylinder 20, such as illustrated in Figure 8, may be employed. Thiscylinder 20 is provided on its periphery at spaced points therealongwith the diagonally disposed outstanding ribs 2I. The ribs 2| arearranged in rows lengthwise of the cylinder 20 with the ribs 2I of onerow substantially aligned and with the ribs of adjacent rows staggeredand in substantially right angular relation.

At each side of the housing I6, and herein disclosed as above a cylinderI5, is a shaft 22, This shaft is rotatably supported at one end, as at23, by a side wall of the housing It and the opposite end thereof issupported by and extends outwardly beyond the side wall 3. Radiatingfrom this shaft 22 at desired points therealong are the fingers 24.

The extended end portion of the shaft 22 has fixed thereto a sprocketwheel 25 around which passes an endless sprocket chain 26 which is alsodisposed around a sprocket whee121 fixed to rotate with the adjacentextended end portion of the shaft II. When the shaft II is in rotation,the shaft 22 is also rotated so that the outstanding ribs 2I serve toeffectively agitate the sand within the hopper H above the opening ordischarge slot I8 to insure effective flow of the sand out through thedischarge slot I8.

It is to be pointed out that when the truck body or box B is in itslowered position, the resultant raising of the hopper H lifts the wheelI'I out of rolling contact with the road surface so that the device isentirely inoperative. However, upon proper tilting of the body or box B,as illustrated in Figure 5, the wheel I! will be brought into contactwith the road surface so that as the device trails along behind thetruck T, the desired rotation of the wheel I! will be effected. It isalso to be pointed out that the swinging or pivotal connection betweenthe hopper H and the body or box B allows the wheel I1 and, of course,the hopper H to readily raise and lower over any inequalities which maybe encountered by the wheel on the road surface and also allows forselective tilting adjustment of the body or box B as maybe required toinsure the desired discharge of the sand load within the body or box Binto the hopper H. It is also to be pointed out that each of theflexible members or chains I is of such length as to allow sufficientlooseness when the wheel I! is in contact with the road surface but tolift the hopper H after the body or box B has been swung downwardlybeyond a certain point.

The particular construction of the body or box B, together with themeans for raising and lowering the same, forms no part of the presentinvention and a detailed description and illustration thereof arebelieved to be unnecessary. It is also to be stated that the body or boxB is to be provided with a conventional tail-gate but the same has beenomitted from the drawings for clarity of disclosure with respect to thedevice itself.

It is important that means be provided for regulating or controlling theflow of sand out through the discharge slot I8 at opposite sides of thehousing I6. At each side of this housing I6 is an elongated valve plate28, the same being of a length to substantially bridge the space betweena side wall of the hopper H and the opposed side wall of the housing I6.The outer longitudinal marginal portion of the valve plate 28 is definedby a depending flange 29 and at desired points spaced therealong theflange 29 is provided thereacross with the vertically disposed sleeves38 through which are freely disposed from above the stub shafts 3|carried by and depending from the outer extremities of the crank arms32. The crank arms 32 are carried by the lower end portions of thevertically disposed shafts 33 rotatably disposed through an outstandingflange 34 carried by the lower part of the front wall I of the hopper.

The upper end portion of each of the shafts 33 is rotatably disposedthrough a bearing 35 suitably secured to the outer face of the frontwall I and fixed to the shaft 33 above the bearing 35 is an outstandingrock arm 36. The mounting of the rock arm 36 upon the shaft 33 providesmeans for maintaining the shaft 33 in applied position. The lowerportion of each of the stub shafts 3I is provided with an enlargement orhead 31 contacting from below with the associated sleeve 30 whereby thevalve plate 28 is maintained in applied or working position.

The outer portions of the rock arm 36 carried by the shafts 33associated with a single valve plate 28 are operatively connected by across bar or rod 38 whereby the shafts 33 are caused to rotate in unisonand in the same direction, thus enabling the valve plate 28 to be movedinwardly or outwardly as desired.

Interposed between and supported by the front and rear walls I and 2 ofthe hopper H at opposite sides of the housing I6 but closely adjacent tothe top thereof are the tubular members 39. These members extendoutwardly beyond the walls I and 2 of the hopper H and rotatablydisposed through each of these tubular. members 39 is a shaft 40. Theforward end portion of the shaft 40 has fixed thereto an upstanding rockarm M to which is operatively connected, as at 42, an end portion of arigid link '43. The opposite extremity of this link 43 is operativelyconnected, as at 44, with the adjacent cross bar or rod 38. As isparticularly illustrated in Figure 4, the connection 44 includes apintle which also provides the operative connection between the rod orbar 38 and the adjacent rock arm 36. The rear end portion of each of theshafts 49 has fixed thereto the lower end portion of an upstanding handlever 45 which provides means whereby the associated shaft 40 may berotated as desired to either extend or retract a valve plate 28.

Each of the hand levers 45 carries a conventional latch mechanism 46 forcoaction with the usual rack 41, herein disclosed as anchored to theouter face of the rear wall 2.

It is to be particularly pointed out that each of the valve plates 28can be adjusted independently of the other but it is to be further notedthat the operating mechanism for one of the plates 28 is so mounted andarranged with respect to the operating mechanism of the second valveplate 28 to cause both of said plates to move in unison in one directionwhen the levers 45 are swung away from each other and vice versa.

The rear wall 2 of the hopper H at its lower part carries a platform 48extending outwardly and rearwardly therefrom and upon which an operatormay stand so that he can conveniently operate the levers '45 to adjustthe valve'plates 28 as may be required and also to allow the operator onthe platform 48 to conveniently look down into the hopper H to readilynote the extent to which the valve plates may be opened or closed. Theoccupant of this platform 48 can also conveniently use a hoe or otherimplement to keep the sand fiowing from the raised or tilted body or boxB of the dumping'truck T.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a roadsanding device constructed in accordance with my invention inparticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with'which it may be assembled and operated.

What I claim is:

1. A sand spreading device including a hopper having a discharge openingin its lower portion and including front and rear Walls, a shaftextending through the hopper and rotatably supported by said front andrear walls, a valve plate for controlling the flow out'through thedischarge opening positioned adjacent to the front wall of the hopper,an upwardly disposed shaft rotatably supported by said front wall andhaving a crank operatively engaged with the valve plate, an operativeconnection between the upwardly disposed shaft and the adjacent endportion of the first shaft for shifting the valve plate as required uponrocking of the first shaft, and means exteriorly of the hopper andadjacent to the rear wall thereof for rocking the first shaft.

2. A sand spreading device including a hopper having a discharge openingin its lower portion and including front and rear walls, a shaftextending through the hopper and rotatably supported by said front andrear walls, a valve plate for controlling the flow out through thedischarge opening positioned adjacent to the front wall of the hopper,an upwardly disposed shaft rotatably supported by said front wall andhaving a crank operatively engaged with the valve plate, an operativeconnection between the upwardly disposed shaft and the adjacent endportion of the first shaft for shifting the valve plate as required uponrocking of the first shaft, means exteriorly of the hopper and adjacentto the rear wall thereof for rocking the first shaft, and an outstanding7 platform carried by the rear Wall of the hopper for the operator torock the first shaft.

3. A portable sand spreading device including a, hopper having itsbottom open, a downwardly opening housing carried by and extendingthrough the central portion of the hopper between and joining the frontand rear walls of the hopper, a shaft rotatably supported by the sidewalls of the hopper and extending through the housing, a ground engagingwheel mounted on the shaft and extending up within the housing, anddischarge cylinders carried by the shaft at opposite sides of thehousing and closely adjacent to the open bottom of the hopper.

4. A portable sand spreading device comprising a hopper havingdownwardly converging front and rear walls, the rear wall being arrangedto maintain substantially a vertical position in the operation of'thedevice and the front wall being inclined upwardly and forwardly, thehopper being open at its bottom between the lower edges of the front andrear walls and the lower edge of the front wall being at a lowerelevation than the lower edge of the rear wall, a downwardly openinghousing extending through the central portion of the hopper between andjoining together the front and rear "Walls of the hopper, a shaftrotatably supported by opposite side walls of the hopper and extendingthrough the housing and lying in the rear portion of the open bottom, aground engaging wheel mounted upon the shaft and extending up into thehousing, a discharge cylinder carried by the shaft at each side of thehousing within the open bottom of the hopper and in close proximity uponone side with the rear wall, a valve plate supported for movement acrossthe lower edge of the front wall in a plane substantially perpendicularto the front wall to regulate the opening between the front wall and theadjacent discharge cylinders, and means for shifting said valve plate.

5. A portable sand spreading device as set forth in claim 4, with aplatform secured to the rear wall adjacent the lower edge thereof andextending across the width of the hopper.

PETER J. GRATTAN.

